Falls – reducing their harm
Listed below is the high level evidence on Falls – reducing their harm produced by NICE, SIGN and NHS based organisations. Also included are the European Society guidelines where available. This list is produced and maintained by HEFT Library Services to support VITAL 4 Medics core skills programme developed in the Trust.
HEFT Local Policies
Policy for the Prevention and Management of Inpatient Falls version 2.0
Bridget Leach, June 2011
Map of Medicine
Map of Medicine Care Pathway, October 2011
Access the Map with your HEFT Login ID
National Guidelines & Non-UK Guidelines (includes Professional Bodies/Associations)
Report of the 2011 inpatient falls pilot audit
Royal College of Physicians, 2012
This pilot audit examines the organisation of services for inpatients vulnerable to falling in acute hospitals, community hospitals and mental health units, by looking at staffing, policies and reporting of falls and examines the clinical care they receive through bedside observation and case note review. This is the first phase in the development of a potential full National Audit of Falls in Care Settings. Phase 2 will be piloting in care homes.
Essential care after an inpatient fall
NPSA/2011/RRR001 January 2011
When a serious injury occurs as a result of an inpatient fall, safe manual handling and prompt assessment and treatment is critical to the patient’s chances of making a full recovery. This Rapid Response Report aims to ensure that local protocols and systems help staff to consistently achieve this.
Falling standards and broken promises
Royal College of Physicians, 2011
This booklet summarises the 2010 national audit of falls and bone health report. It is written in plain language for older people at risk of falls, and their friends, relatives, carers and neighbours. It details the falls and fracture services available and the standards of care expected from these services.
The Fallsafe Project using a care bundle to reduce falls in hospital
Royal College of Physicians, 2011
Reducing harm associated with falls
Patient Safety First, 2010
This site highlights the falls prevention campaign that led to the development of ‘How to Guide’ on Reducing harm from falls; compilation of case studies from NHS Trusts; useful resources to use by local NHS Trusts for staff education; and access to the ProFaNE (Prevention of Falls Network Europe) Network dedicated to the prevention of falls in Europe and beyond.
American Geriatric Society/British Geriatric Society, 2010
WHO Global Report on Falls Prevention in Older Age
World Health Organisation, 2008
Slips, trips and falls in hospital PSO report
National Patient Safety Agency, 2007
CG21 Falls: The assessment and prevention of falls in older people
NICE, 2004
Staying safe, preventing falls – one of the High Impact Actions
NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement
Clinical practice guideline for the assessment and prevention of falls in older people
Royal College of Nursing, 2004
The main areas examined by the guideline were: the evidence for factors that increase the risk of falling; the most effective methods of assessment and identification of older people at risk of falling; the most clinically and cost effective interventions and preventative strategies for the prevention of falls; the clinical effectiveness of hip protectors for the prevention of hip fracture; the most clinically and cost effective interventions and rehabilitation programmes for the prevention of further falls; and older peoples’ views and experiences of falls prevention strategies and programmes. Recommendations for good practice and cost effectiveness are presented.
Department of Health, 2003
Systematic Reviews – Cochrane Library
Interventions designed to prevent healthcare bed-related injuries in patients
Oliver Anderson*, Piers R Boshier, George B Hanna
Editorial Group: Cochrane Injuries Group
Published Online: 18 JAN 2012
Interventions for preventing falls in older people: an overview of Cochrane Reviews
Julie E Udell1,*, Amy Drahota2, Taraneh P Dean1, Ruth Sander1, Heather Mackenzie1
Editorial Group: Cochrane Bone, Joint and Muscle Trauma Group
Published Online: 13 APR 2011
Interventions for preventing falls in older people in nursing care facilities and hospitals
Ian D Cameron1,*, Geoff R Murray2, Lesley D Gillespie3, M Clare Robertson3, Keith D Hill4, Robert G Cumming5, Ngaire Kerse6
Editorial Group: Cochrane Bone, Joint and Muscle Trauma Group
Published Online: 17 FEB 2010
NHS Evidence
Review of the Evidence on Falls Prevention in Hospitals Task 4 Final Report
Hempel, Susanne, et al
Produced by RAND Corporation for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, February 2012